Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences

Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences – Bordeaux France Wine Tour Extensions

Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences – Many requests come in from our Bordeaux Wine Tasting, Walking Tour guests asking for advice on fun and interesting things to do in Bordeaux for a couple of days before our Bordeaux Wine Tasting, Walking Tour begins. Many guests who arrive for a pre-tour stay, are arriving to Bordeaux by plane or train, and settle at a hotel in the city center, and are therefore interested in sightseeing, things to do, or places to discover that are located in the city or within a short walking distance or taxi ride from Bordeaux city center.

Below we’ve compiled a list of our Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences. These are some of our favorite things to do in Bordeaux. If you’re traveling on our Bordeaux Wine Tasting, Walking Tour, and would like to complement your Off the Beaten Path Bordeaux Tour experience prior to the tour beginning, we recommend coming 2-3 days before our Bordeaux wine tour begins. With a couple of pre-tour days in Bordeaux, tour guests can easily experience our Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences and much more without feeling rushed! And best of all, tour guests can easily coordinate, experience, and book these recommendations independently or with the help of the local tourist office.

Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences – Bordeaux France Wine Tour Extensions

1. Visit “La Cite du Vin” – France’s very own Wine Theme Park!  La Cité du Vin is an extraordinary place with all the scope of a wine theme park for adults, and unique to the Bordeaux wine region. It’s located in the “Bassins à Flot” district of Bordeaux. The park features 20 themed areas and exhibits. The scope of the park is like one might expect from this prestigious wine producing region. It offers a true theme park style, and is  equipped with a simulator boat ride that brings to life the maritime journey of a wine merchant. Wine is still king here of course, it is Bordeaux afterall. There are expert-led tasting sessions, and the top two floors are dedicated to the panoramic Belvedere wine saloon, a restaurant, tapas bar, and a boutique. The “must do experience” here includes the “tasting experience,” a multi-sensory space with moving sets, 3D images and olfactory whiffs. With it’s bold statement, the park stands to seduce many visitors to the region!
2. The Wine School in Bordeaux – Learn how to taste and how to speak about Bordeaux wines, Bordeaux vineyards, and wine making.  Sessions are 2 hours in length, and classes are offered in 2016 every day except Sundays and French bank holidays from 10 am – 12 pm. Visitors can learn fundamental information about…
   • the general presentation of the Bordeaux vineyards: climate, soils…
   • winemaking and agingBlending,
   • the key to harmony and equilibrium in Bordeaux wines
   • Grape varieties in the Bordeaux area
   • Language and techniques of tasting
   • Commented tasting of a dry white wine, two red wines, and a sweet white wine
   • There is also the willamette valley vineyard and winery that wine enthusiasts can check out.
3. Hot Air Ballooning over the vineyards of Saint Emilion – Hot air ballooning is a magical experience, but floating over spectacular landscapes of wine country takes the experience to a new level. Glide along on a one-hour ride over the prestigious vineyards of Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac… Admire breath-taking views of wine estates and surrounding historical sites, and enjoy a memorable cocktail from up above with great local Bordelais products. An unforgettable experience!
4. Buy wine at L’Intendant – Probably the most spectacular wine shop in all of Bordeaux. It’s easy to be mesmorized by the beautiful spiral staircase lined by shelves of the region’s most prized, and quite a few hard-to-find, wines! The staff are very welcoming, and offer unparalleled expertise in wine selection.
5. Taste and buy chocolates from Yves Thuries – The boutique is located at 38 rue des 3 Conils in Bordeaux across from the Grand Theatre, Yves Thuries is a holder of the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de France title for pâtissier-chocolatier-confiseur & glacier. I’ve written about his chocolates a while back, and nothing has changed – it’s still a great pleasure to enjoy his creations! I particularly love the varied selection of chocolate sculptures on exhibit!
6. Shopping on Rue St. Catherine – It’s the spectacular, principal pedestrian shopping street in Bordeaux. The street is lined with shops selling everything from clothes and shoes to wine accessories, linens, French handbags, and much more. Some of the city’s best loved cafes and brasseries also sit on side streets branching off the main shopping street. Exploring this street is a “must do”. Top off the experience by stopping for a glass of wine at an outdoor cafe, and enjoying people watching and taking in the livelihood of this spectacular neighborhood!
7. Savor a Michelin-star meal at The Pressoir d’Argent by Gordon Ramsey – For the mindful of wine and food, Gordon Ramsey’s 1 Michelin star restaurant at the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux is a “must experience”. Enjoy a wonderful combination of gourmet fare paired perfectly with local Bordeaux wines. My personal recommendation for foodies includes the tasting menu featuring oven roasted pigeon, pain d’épices, beetroot, celeriac and shallot marmalade!
8. Dine at the iconic Brasserie Bordelaise – Featuring a 700 different wines and a traditional French bistro dining experience amidst wine decor. The hustle and bustle of wait staff serving up finely prepared traditional dishes makes a meal here feel very foodie cultural. This is the bistro in Bordeaux to experience for the food and wine, and the prices are easy on the wallet! Open everyday lunch and dinner.
9. Walk along the Garonne River bank of Bordeaux – The quayside in Bordeaux is one of the most magnificent waterfronts in the world. It features beautiful 18th century façades lining the river, a spectacular fountain, and numerous listed historic buildings overlooking the river. It’s a scenic and lively place to be weekday evenings and all day on the weekend. Everything here is open on the weekend. Enjoy shopping, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a great place to enjoy beautiful views and to walk off “Bordelais” gourmet calories!
10. Discover Bordeaux on an Evening river cruise – Enjoy a scenic river cruise at sunset, and discover Bordeaux in a whole new light. Savour 3 different, carefully selected wines, accompanied by fresh, regional produce: tapas, breads, cheeses and charcuterie. It’s a fabulous way to see the city from a different angle, as well as to relax and enjoy local wines and food at the same time.

2020 Off the Beaten Path Tour dates – Prices!

2021 Off the Beaten Path Tour dates – Prices!

Top 10 Bordeaux Wine Plus Experiences

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EMAIL US at franceotbp@gmail.com or  CALL 1.717.683.2827 with your tour questions and to inquire about space availability for one of our tours to Provence, Loire Valley, or Bordeaux, France!

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